‘I’ve had some good touches but I gamble in business now’ - meet the four-horse trainer who has packed it all into his 80 years
You really ain't seen nothing yet. If you thought Ray Craggs winning a £70,000 race at York with Ron O, a 28-1 shot who was only his third runner at the track in 30 years, was a surprise, you should spend some time with him.
Craggs is not the sort to blow his own trumpet, or even risk the odd puff into his piccolo, and time and again he stresses he does not want to sound big-headed.
But the self-professed part-time trainer – he currently oversees four horses – has packed an astonishing amount into his 80 years, starting from nothing, yet now owning nine farms and a contracting business.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inInterviews
Last updated
Copy- 'You can get a bit of stick in this sport if you're a poster boy - and I got absolutely rinsed about the magazine cover'
- 'I've still got the fire in me' - why it will take more than a brush with death to stop Nicky Richards
- 'He's a fantastic horse and it's easy to train good ones like that - he's the best I've had'
- 'Racing has always been in my life' - Olympics heroine Sam Quek opens up on her love of racing, joining the ITV team and unexpected abuse
- 'I feel guilty because I've already had one go' - meet the owner chasing a second Grand National 42 years after his first
- 'You can get a bit of stick in this sport if you're a poster boy - and I got absolutely rinsed about the magazine cover'
- 'I've still got the fire in me' - why it will take more than a brush with death to stop Nicky Richards
- 'He's a fantastic horse and it's easy to train good ones like that - he's the best I've had'
- 'Racing has always been in my life' - Olympics heroine Sam Quek opens up on her love of racing, joining the ITV team and unexpected abuse
- 'I feel guilty because I've already had one go' - meet the owner chasing a second Grand National 42 years after his first